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Mick O’Dea paints Brian Friel portrait

This commission should prove a sight less controversial: artist Mick O'Dea, who caused upset when he exhibited a portrait of Veronica Guerin's murderer in 2003, has been appointed by the National Gallery of Ireland (NGI) to paint the playwright Brian Friel.

The author of works such as Dancing At Lughnasa will be hung alongside poet Seamus Heaney and broadcaster Gay Byrne in the gallery, the first such portrait commissioned by the NGI since author Maeve Binchy was added in 2005. The commission was to mark Friel's 80th birthday last year and the final work will be unveiled next month.

O'Dea is known for painting a portrait of Brian Meehan, who is serving a life sentence for the 1996 murder of journalist Veronica Guerin. He displayed it at the RHA's annual exhibition in 2003, explaining that it was "one of the better portraits I have done over the last 12 months".